Pool-ball rack



D' 'FREEMAN PooL BALL RACK Oct. 27 i 1925.

Filed May 7, 1921 Patented Oct. 27, 1925.

UNITED STATES DAVID aanslaan, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

POOL-BALL RACK.

Application filed May 7',

To all whom t may Gomera.'

Be it known that l, Davie FREEMAN, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Pool-Ball Racks, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this speciiication.

This invention relates toimprovements in pool ball racks and has for its object the production of a device of this character which will be coin Controlled, that is, a device which will be incapable of use except upon the deposit of a coin or coins of pre determined denomination.

A further 'object is the production of a pool ball rack which will be of simple and economical construction and eflicient in use. Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which-e Fig. 1 is a rear view of 'a pool ball rack embodying the invention, portions of the same being broken away to disclose underlying parts, the barriers atthe inlet openings of the rack being shown in depressed or inoperative position; f

2` is an end elevation of the rack showing the inlet or admission openings thereof, the barriers at the inlet openings of the rack being shown in elevated or operative position;

Fig. 3 is a detail section cross section view through one of these barriers;

F ig. 4 is a detail section taken on substa'n* tially line 4 4 of Fig. 3;

F ig. 5 is an enlarged detail section illustrating a-pivotally mounted stop member at the discharge end of each shelf for holding the balls on the shelves; and i i F (i is a detail perspective view showing the means Iemployed for locking the ball barriers in operative position; and

Fig. 7 is a detail section through the point of pivotal mounting of one of the ball stopsv showing the recesses in the ball support for receiving the stop when the latter is'rocked to inoperative position.

The preferred form of construction as illustrated in the drawing comprises ya rack havingl a substantially rectangular' body l0 in which are provided a plurality of super posed parallel compartments 11 `for the pool 1921. Serial No. 467,763.

balls A. The balls, when arranged in said compartments, rest upon the bottoms 12 of `said compartments which form, as will be seen, a plurality of vertically spaced shelves.

One end of the body L10 of the rack is provided with inlet openings 13 through which the pool balls may be inserted into the compartments 11. Provided in the bottom of each compartment adjacent the opposite end ofthe rack is an outlet opening 14T, the openings 14 being in vertical alignment so that the balls, in passing. through the outlet openings of the upper compartments, will pass through the outlet open# ings of the compartments below, and be ultimately deposited into a receptacle 15 which is slidably mounted in the lower end ofthe body 10.' Said receptacle 15 is provided at its outer end with a handle or knob 16, whereby the same may be readily inserted or withdrawn. l

-Provided at each of the inlet openings 13 is a barrier 17, an openingorrecess 18 being provided at the lower side of'each opening 13 for the reception of the barrier cooperating therewith. Each barrier is pivoted at 19 and is normally held in elevated or operative position by means of a helical comi' pression spring 20. Said spring normally holds the barrier againststops 21, andvin the downward movement of the"` barrier to inoperative position the spring will be compressed. VVhen the barrier is in elevated or operative position, the same reduces the size of the corresponding opening 13 to such an extent as to prevent the insertion ofa pool ball therethrough. A

Cooperating with each barrier is a detent 22 which is pivotally mounted at its lower end as at 23." Each detent 22 is arranged to engage'under a laterally projecting lug 24: .provided upon the corresponding barrier to lock the latter in elevated or operative positi-on. AL leaf spring 25 cooperates with each detent to automatically move ythe detent into operative, relation with the barrier when the latter reaches its elevated or operative position. y

Cooperating with each barrier 17 for unlocking the same is a coin controlled mecha-v nism 26, having a suitable coin acmission slot 26. The construction of each mechanism will be such that, upon the insertion of a coin of proper denomination into the coin admission slot Q6 thereof',` a'lever 27 O ,the 'mechanism will be unlocked so asto v` permit the depression thereof'. 'Upon'v such depression of said lever 27, a rearwardly projecting arm 28 of the mechanism will be also depressed. with a laterally projecting stud Q9, said stud, upon depression of said arm engaging against an inclined surface 3Q on the corresponding detent 22, ascl'e'arly seenl in' Fig. 6, so as to move the detent tok releasing! position and' thus' unlock the barrier; Continuedv downnf'ard movement ofthe' arm' 2S then' brings the same into engagement nf'ithf'tlie lub' 2st, whereupon tliebarrierwvilli be swung. downwardly' to inoperative posi tion so as to perinitfoitl the insertionoii'a.` p-ool ball Ytl'irou'gl-i the'.corresponding openingll.l

l Cooperating with each'barri'er tohold the` same liin' depressed'or inoperative position is a lookin-g' barjl7 which is 'slidably mount'- ed in suitablebearings. and 33, 'as clearly seen' in-Fig; E1.' Cooperatingf'ivith each bar is a-he'lica'll tension spring lila 4'whichserves to normally p1 ssy the b ar toward the' barrier 17 with Wn VVthe same Lcooperates;.so that iv-hen the barrier reaches itsllower ter- `ininal `o"moven`1ent upon depression of said barrier,` l a shoulder 3l" on thev barrier vrill have passed the adjacent end' ot' said baizj and the latterD under the intlne'nce'of the springl 34, cooperating' therewith, will: more" into engagenfient with said shoulder. and

thusserveto-loclr` the barrier in depressed position. Th'usunloolm'g' of the' 'barril r'at each of the'inl'et openings 1B is' governedl by 'the .Corresponding wie" Centrolld mesh# anlsrniso that in' thensfe'o'f theracl the'lnu Serti-cn of a ball' or'ballskinto. any@ one of.' theCOIIrartillents 1 1. Will-not befrel'mite'd' until' the proper @ein esfbe'eeesertd` inte the corresponding sein" Controlled mechanism..

Tl'e @ed elf @eeh barSLreIDOtefismi the' barrier e'epertn'g'therewith .iS-"bent lat'- erally asl at3'5` and engageswit'h slotted i link 36 which is pivoted at 37/ to'a vertically 'extendi'ng'bar '38. The bar 3S projects through and is' slidably mounted in the" bottoms 12erv the' compartments 11, alll of the links' 36- being connected therewith'.` Provided at the' lower end Aofthe-1 bai 3S' isa roller-39' which, When'tlie receptacle. 1'5 is in closed 'positiong rests upon the' depressed' surface 10T-thereof', as clearly. seen in'Fig'. 1.

Upon opening or' out-Wardl sliding ot said?4 The arm 2S is provided to be retracted from saidy shoulders 31, thereby" releasing the' barriers' 17 which will be returned to elevated or operative position by theisprings-QQ; The slots provided in the links 36 are elongated so as to allow fori-relative retrograde movement of said linlgs when the bar 38 again moves downwardly to engage-ment with the depressed surface 40 upon reinsertion -o'l' the receptacle 15. To limit' the downward-movement of the bar 38` upon complete Withdrawal or removal of the receptacle 15,y said bar is provided Withfa stop. 43'; An inclined sur face. la is provided at the inner-end oi said receptacle for" engagement with the roller 89, upon insertion of said'receptacle alter complete removal' et the same.

The' bottomslQ, otcoinpartments 11 are inclined toward the outlet openings la, so that theballs, upon"insertion of the same into said conipartments'-, will rollf' by gravity ton'ardthe' outlet openings thereof. Iirorder to arrest thc'balls soas to prevent immediatedischarge otthe'same through said ontlet openings, stops 45 are provided, lone ot which is arranged adjacent each outlet opening, being pivoted' at L65 as clearly seen in Figs; 1k and 5. Alielical tension spring et? cooperates with eachl stop Zl'fto normally hold vthe samein upright or operative position; the rearward endVT of each spring being connected withl base LitT, which e\'- tends inivardly from the adjacent v rall'ot tliebody 10 of the racki InA order-to rock thestops 45 vto vinoperative position, so as to release the balls Yat the desired time, thc bars 31 are, provided with projecting arms d8 and48, the lowerinost'" bar 31 having two members 48 and 4S', Whereas'each` oi' tlie'ot'herbars 31 have but' onei'nember d'8 projectingfupvvardly therefrom. The mein b'er'tS- projects downwardly from the lowerinost bar 31 through aA slot in the' adjacent bottoni member 12 for engagement with the vlower'end41 ofthe adjacent stop do, asv clearly seen in Fig. 5.- Themember ASprojects npivard'ly fromtliebar 31' into engagement With the lower end of the stop 15 just labove. as also seen in Fig. 5.- Tlie arrangement is sach thatin the movement oi the bars 31, which causes retraction or' the same Jfrom the sliouldersll ofthe barriers 17, as above described; the stops 45 will be rocked to horizontalE position intomrecesses 49 providedin the upper-and lower sides ot bottom members 12 thereby releasing the balls` so as to permit' yofthe same passing on to the outletl openings 14, as Will be readily understood. In order that the balls may be viewed While in the rac'kf. the front side of the latter is provided VWith a glass panel 50, A as/seen in Fig. 5,

lVith a device of' the construction setv forth, then it will beseen that the receptaole l5 will always-beunlocked and ready to be removed to deposit the balls on to the table for play. In order to place the balls in the various compartments or shelves of the rack as the balls are knocked into the pockets of the table, during play, itfbecomes necessary to deposit a coin of the required denomination into the coin controlled mechanism of each of the compartments or shelves used. In other Words, a coin will have to be deposited by each player in order to secure a shelf or compartment in the rack to accommodate the balls which are secured by the player during the play. In

the deposit of a coin by a player, the bar-V rier l? of the corresponding compartment or shelf ivill be released and moved to in-V operative position, upon depression of the lever Q7 by the player. rIlle balls will be inserted into the various compartments or shelves of the rack bythe various players and upon completion of the game, the receptacle l5 may be Withdrauf'n t-o deposit the balls on the table for another game. In the Withdrawal of the receptacle, however, the rod 38 will be moved upwardly, causing the bars 31 to be retracted, thus releasing the barriers l? Which will be returned to elevated or operative position by the springs 20. At the same time the members lS and 48 of the bars 3l will engage with and rock the stopsft to inoperative position, thus releasing the balls and permitting the same to pass to the discharge openings 14, whence the same Will pass downwardly Into the receptacle l5, so that before the latter is completely Withdrawn, all of the balls will have been deposited therein.

With this arrangement, it will be seen that the use of the rack will be coin controlled, it. being necessary for each player in the playing of each game to deposit a coin in order to secure theuse of a compartment or shelf for the deposit of his balls.

lith this arrangement the services of attendants in pool rooms may be dispensed with or materially reduced, and the time ordinarily consumed by an attendant in caring for the balls before successive games, that is spotting the balls on the table, Will Je saved.

lVhile I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for ca rying out my invention, this is capable of variation and modification Without departing from the spirit of my invention. I, therefore, do not Wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and niodilications as come Within the scope of the appended claims.

lVhat I claim newA` and desire to secure1 by Letters Patent is:

In a `device of the class described, a supporting element for balls, a barrier pivotally mounted in said element at one end thereof, means adjacent said supporting element for locking said barrier in a position preventingthe insertion of balls into said element, and coin controlled mechanism for temporarily disabling said locking element.

2. In a device of the class described, a plurality of supportingl elements for balls, bai.`-

riers pivotally mounted in the ends of said elements, locking means adjacent each suprality of supporting elements for balls, a vertically movable barrier at the intake end of each supporting element, a locking member for each barrier, and a coin controlled mechanism for each locking member for temporarily disabling the locking member to permit the insertion of balls into said supporting element.

-la In a device of the class described, a supporting element for balls, a barrier mov` able in the intake end of said supporting element to prevent the insertion of balls, a `locking member mounted adjacent said barrier to `lock the saine in position, and coin controlled mechanism provided With a member for disabling said locking means.

In a device of the class described, a supporting element for balls, said element having an inlet and an outlet opening, a barrieradjacent said inlet opening for pre venting the insertion of balls into said supporting element, locking means for said barrier, coin controlled mechanism for temporarily disabling said locking means, means for holding said barrier in noinlocking` position when said locking means is disabled, means for arresting the balls to prevent passage thereof into said outlet opening", said barrier holding means cooperating with said ball arresting means whereby said barrier moves to locking posit-ion upon the removal of said ball arresting` means.

6. In a device of the class described, a supporting element for balls, said element harn ing inlet and outlet openings for the balls; a barrier for preventing insertion of vballs through said inlet opening; coin controlled mechanism for locking said barrier in operative position; a lock `for holding said barrier in inoperative position; a stop for arresting the balls to prevent passage of the same into said outlet opening; means for moving said stop to inoperative position and for actuating said lock to release said barrier; and means for moving said barrier to operative position when said barrier is released.

3. In a device of the class described, a plu-` ltltl 7. In a device of the class described, a supporting element Jfor balls, said element having inlet and outlet openings for the balls; a barrier for preventing insertion of balls through said inlet opening; coin controlled mechanism tor locking said barrier in operative position; a lock for holding` said barrier in inoperative position; a stop for arresting the balls to prevent passage oi' the same into said outlet opening; means for sinniltaneously moving said stop to inoperative position and tor actuating said lock to release said barrier; and means for moving said barrier to ope 1ative position when said barrier is released.

8. In a device ot the class described, a supporting element ter balls, said element having inlet and outlet openings for the balls; a barrier ior preventing insert-ion ont balls through said inlet opening; coin controlled mechanism for locking said barrier in operative position; a lock for holding said barrier in inoperative position; a stop for arresting the balls to prevent passage ot the same into said outlet opening; a movably mounted receptacle for balls when' discharged through said outlet opening; means for utilizing the movement ot said receptacle to actuate said stop and lock; and means for moving said barrier to operative position when said barrier is released.

9. In a device ot' the class described, a supporting element for balls, said element having inlet .and outlet openings for the balls; a barrier for preventing insertion olf balls through said inlet opening; coin controlled mechanism tor locking said barrier in operative position; a lock tor holding said barrier in inoperative position; a stop for arresting the balls to prevent passage oit the same into said outlet opening; a slidably mounted receptacle tor the balls when discharged through said outlet opening; means tor utilizing` the sliding movement oft said receptacle to actuate said stop andloclr; and means for moving said barrier to operative position when said barrier is released.

l0. In a device of the class described, a supporting element for balls, said element having inlet and outlet openings for the balls; a barrier for preventing insertion of balls through said inlet opening; coin controlled mechanism tor locking said barrier in operative position; a loclr for holding said barrier in inoperative position; a stop for arresting the balls to prevent passage of the same into said outlet opening; a movablv mounted receptacle for the balls When discharged through said opening; means for utilizingy the movement of said receptacle to aetuate said stop and lock whereby; upon outward movement ot' said receptacle7 said stop Will be moved to inoperative position and said lock Will be actuated t0k release said barrier; @and means for moving the said barrier to operative'positi-on When said barrier is released.

1l. In a device of the class described, a plurality of superposed supporting. elements tor balls, each of said elements having an inlet and an outlet opening for the balls; barriers cooperating with said inlet openings tor preventing insertion 'of balls therethrough; coin controlled mechanism cooperating With each barrier for locking the same inoperative position; loclrs for holding said barriers in inoperative position; stops cooperating with said outlet openings for arresting the balls to prevent passage of the same thereinto; a movably mounted receptacle tor the balls when discharged through said outlet openings; means ior utilizing the movement of said receptacle to actuate said stops and locks; and means for n'ioving said barriers to operative position when released.

l2. In a device ot' the class described, Va pluralitvv oit superposed supporting elements or balls; each of said elements having an inlet and an outlet opening for the balls; barriers cooperating with said inlet openings tor preventing insertion of balls therethrough; coin controlled mechanism cooperating with rech barrier Jfor locking the same in operative posit-ion; locks for holding said barriers in inoperative position; stops cooperating with said outlet openings for arresting the balls to prevent passage oi' the same thereinto; a slidably mounted receptacle for the balls when discharged through said outlet openings; means 'for utilizing the movement of said receptacle to actu-ate said stops and locks, whereby; upon outward movement of said receptacle, said stops will be moved to inoperative position and saidloclrs Will be retracted to release said barriers; and means for moving said barriers to operative position when released.

13. In a device ot the class described; a plurality of superposed supporting elements for balls; each of said elements having an inlet and an outlet opening for the balls; barriers cooperating With said inlet openingsl for preventing insertion ot balls therethrough; coin controlled mechanism cooperating With each barrier for locking the same in operative position; locks for holding said barriers in inoperative position; stops cooperating with said outlet openings for arresting the balls to prevent passage of the saine thereinto; a slidably mounted receptacle for the balls when discharged through said outlet openings; means for utilizing the movement of said receptacle to actuate said stops and locks, whereby, upon outward movement of said receptacle, said stops Will be moved to inoperative position and said locks Will be retracted to release said barriers, and, upon return ot said receptacle to operative position, said stops llt) will again assume operative position; and means for moving said barriers to operative position when released.

14. ln combination, a plurality olf substantially closed shelves Lt'or carrying arti- .cles thereon, said shelves having openings prising one or more shelves for receiving balls, each sheltl being provided With an inlet opening and an outlet opening barrier, means adjacent to each of said `openings adapted When in operative position to prevent the entrance and the removal ot the balls from each shell, and mechanism cooperating With said barrier means adjacent both openings of each shell' for releasing each of said means, said mechanism functioning to release and move to inoperative position one of said means While the other said means is held in operative position.

16. ln combination, a pool ball rack comprising one or more shelves for receiving balls, each shell being provided With an inlet opening and an outlet opening, a barrier at said inlet opening adapted When in operative position to prevent the insertion of the balls, a stop adjacent to said outlet opening adapted when in operative position to prevent the removal of the balls, and mechanism connected to said barrier and said stop for actuating said barrier and said stop to move them alternatively 'to operative positions.

17. In combination, a pool ball rack comprising one or more shelves for receiving balls, each shelf being provided with an inlet opening and an outlet opening, a barrier at said inlet opening adapted when in operative position to prevent the insertion ot' the balls, a stop adjacent to said outlet opening'adapted ivhen in operative position to prevent the removal of the balls but to be in inoperative position When said barrier is in operative position, interconnecting means between said barrier and said stop for accomplishing such movement oit said barrier and said stop, and means for actuating said interconnecting means.

18. In combination, a. pool ball rack coniprising one or more shelves :tor receiving balls, each shelf being provided with an inlet opening and an outlet opening, a barrier at said inlet opening adapted when in operative position to prevent the insertion of the balls, a stop adjacent to said out-let opening adapted when in operative position to prevent the removal ot' the balls, an interr'zonnecting rod for moving said stop to inoperative position and for simultaneously releasing said barrier to permit it to move to operative position, and mechanism for actuating said interconnecting rod.

19. ln combination, a pool ball ack comprising one or more shelves for receiving balls, cach shelf being provided with an inlet opening and an outlet opening, a barrier at said inlet opening adapted when inoperative position to prevent the insertion of the balls,'a stop adjacent to said outlet opening adapted when in operative position to prevent the removal of the balls, mechanism adjacent to said outlet opening and coope ating with said barrier and said stop for simultaneously moving them into operative and inoperative positions respectively, and coin controlled mechanism adjacent to said inlet opening for releasing said barrier after moved linto operative position.

20. In combination, a pool ball rack com! prising one or more shelves for receiving balls, each shelf having an opening for receiving the balls, a barrier cooperating With said oiening for preventing the insertion of the balls While in non-retracted position, means including a token receptacle for actuating said barrier to retracted position upon the insertion of a token in the receptacle whereupon the balls may be inserted through said opening, a stop at the opposite end of said' shelves tor holding the balls on the shelves, means for displacing said stop to discharge the balls from said shelves', and interconnecting means for returning said barrier to non-retracted position upon the displacement of said stop.

21. In combination, a pool ball'raclr comprising shelves for receiving balls, said shelves having inlet openings for receiving the balls, barrier movable into and out of said inlet openings, a discharge trough for receiving the balls 'from said shelves, and mechanism cooperating With said barriers and said trough to prevent the insertion of balls through said inlet openings after the trough has been removed from the rack.

22. ln combination, a pool ball rack comprising shelves for receiving balls, said shelves having inlet openings lor receiving the balls, barriers movable into and out of said inlet openings, a discharge trough for receiving the balls from said shelves, mechanism cooperating with said barriers and saidv trough to prevent the insertion of balls through said inlet openings after the trough has been removed from the rack, and coin controlled mechanism for rendering said' barriers inoperative to permit the insertion yot the balls through said openings.

In combination, a pool ball rack com prising one or more shelves for receiving lll) bells, each shelf beiugprovided with an iulet ooeiimo' und au outlet o enmo' said outu o u f ,let o enm'svdisoharofinfr said balls to 21- oom- D D b mon trough, and mechanrsm including a 4plurality of barriers cooperating with said trough whereby said inlet openings are blocked against the rece )tion of balls when sind trough 1s removed.

24. In oomb1nnt1on,apool bi1-ll rack comprising one or more shelves lor receiving balls, each shelf being provided with an 111- let opening und :1u outlet opening, said out .let openings discharging snidfballs `Eo-abomsaid trough is removed, and token vreceiving means for rendering said mechanism nef fective to allow insertion of balls tl'uough said inlet openings.

In Witness `whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my fname.

DAVID FREEMAN. 

